Removing fluoride from water could result in 25 million cavities and cost $9.8 billion, study estimates

New research suggests that removing fluoride from public water would increase dental care costs and tooth decay for children across the United States. 

The study, published Friday in the JAMA Health Forum, used a nationally representative sample of 8,484 children aged 0 to 19 from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to estimate projected outcomes of stopping water fluoridation in the U.S. — something some states, including Utah and Florida, have already begun doing. 

Researchers found removing fluoride was associated with an increase in tooth decay of 7.5 percentage points, or 25.4 million cases, and cost approximately $9.8 billion over 5 years.